It's been a couple of very busy weeks. Mom fell and broke her hip, they did a full hip replacement, got her walking with a walker and sent her home. So we have been trying to keep someone with her all the time, worried about another fall with her alone. We're planning to start having people drop in frequently to check on her soon, but she can't cook for herself, or bathe herself yet, but she's getting better very quickly. Then on Tuesday, my aunt went into hospital in Seattle. She passed away today. My father-in-law has had a chest infection and is needing help, too. I haven't been here all that much, and likely won't be for another week or two. Hope you're all well.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), January 25, 2004

Answers

(((((Tricia)))))

I'm sorry about the loss of your aunt. I'll pray for your mom and father-in-law (and for YOU to have lots of strength).

We wore ourselves out getting the house ready to sell, but it's on the market now and we've already been given an offer for more than we asked. (Now we'll see if the couple's financing goes through, etc.)

One of my cousins and his wife had a baby this past week. They were told they couldn't have children. He is a beautiful miracle!

Another one of my cousins (my age) left Friday for 4 weeks of training in Colorado on his way to Afghanistan. He's a member of the Oklahoma National Guard. It was very difficult for my 83-year- old aunt to see her son go off to war.

Busy here, too, but I check in when I can... glad to see a post from you! Hugs!

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), January 25, 2004.

(((Tricia))) (((Gayla)))

I'm so busy right now that I have to schedule online time. I hope your families have a peaceful year. And God bless us, every one.

-- helen (the@mule.suffers.neglect), January 25, 2004.

Thanks, Gayla and Helen. Has anyone heard from Lon lately?? He's been really quiet - I suspect he's got some big stuff happening. Rob's probably off ice fishing :-) And Robert and J are probably basking in the sun, thinking up limmericks - right, guys? And Carol probably decided to wallpaper and pasted herself to the wall....

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), January 27, 2004.

I've been wondering about Lon.

-- helen (is@it.time.to.worry?), January 27, 2004.

Hi all. I'm on 'assignment' now and will be for the next couple of months.

No ice fishing since the lake is covered with lots of snow and it's so cold. (The holes we drill freeze over so quickly if it's real cold that it makes it very hard to fish since we are continually clearing the ice).

Hope everyone is ok. I'll be popping in.

-- (sonofdust@undisclosed.location), January 27, 2004.

Be careful Rob.

-- helen (NOW@it.is.time.to.worry.again), January 27, 2004.

Lol Tricia, I wish I was pasted. I'd forgotten what an awful job stripping wallpaper is, but it's a bit like childbirth, once you've started there's no going back. The wallpaper is all off now, the prep work is happening and hopefully there will be some serious painting done next weekend. Unfortunately hubby is away for a few days so things are on hold 'till then apart from a bit of sanding I can do.

I hope things ease up a bit for you soon. You must have run yourself ragged lately.

Hi Gayla. Good news about the house, I hope it all goes through quickly.

That must be one precious baby boy.

I hope all goes well for your cousin in Afghanistan, it doesn't seem fair that an 83 yr. old woman has to deal with something like that.

Helen, don't worry about neglecting the mule, he knows you love him.

Rob, stay safe.

Hello Aunt Bee wherever you are. I do hope life is treating you okay.

-- Carol (c@oz.com), January 28, 2004.

Oh dear Tricia~

So sorry to hear about your mum's injury, and your aunt passing. Heartfelt prayers going out to you kind friend. But glad to hear your mum is fareing better now! Brr, all you folks are so frosty except for Carol!

Do forgive my absence, but this has been, shall we say, a busy year? I recently returned from a week in your lovely country Tricia! The west coast, though, where it is relatively warm in comparison to the rest of Canada. It was quite beautiful and the people were so friendly!

It was lovely to have some respite, though the time flowed all too quickly for me.

Gayla, it is difficult to see loved ones go to what is essentially war. Harder still on the ones left behind, especially aging loved ones. Hugs to you aunt, and prayers for your cousin, that he may be safe and protected in a foreign land. Oh, and best wishes on the home sale coming thru!

Helen, sometimes not being online is a blessing! I'm sure Mike and the critters appreciate your time and devotion! I would if I were one of them...

Rob, I can only echo Carol's statement of "stay safe" while on assignment! And stay warm, ifn you're able.

Carol, best of luck with that wallpaper assignment-LOL! I have no idea how to handle wallpaper. Slumpblock and adobe yes, but not wallpaper!

My apologies to you all for not being around much, it's just that life duties and responsibilities take precedent these days. Oh yeah, and keeping sane-LOL!

Hugs to you all my friends.

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), February 01, 2004.

So nice to hear from all of you.

Life DOES throw us 'curve balls' from time to time, doesn't it?

(((((Hugs))))) all around!

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), February 02, 2004.

Sweet Princess I have a question for you; What exactly is a 'Canuck'?

I mean, one of the kids (who's into Ice Hockey) asked me and I said itmeant Tricia (no, I'm only kidding). I thought it meant a region of Canada (by Alberta) but then I looked in my dictionary and it just said 'A Canadian, especially a French Canadian', and that didn't sound very Canukian to me at all.

So I said I'd ask you for the official Canuckian response.

-- (thesonofdust@canuck.canuck), February 03, 2004.

Waiting for k'nuckle response from up north.

-- Robert & Jean (Robert&Jean@south.whatsnow), February 04, 2004.

Canuck was first used as a derogatory term for French Canadian immigrants to the US (Louisiana, mostly). Being proud of our Canadian roots, most Canadians (even the French variety) decided that it wasn't very derogatory (kinda the same as if Yanks decided to be proud to be called Yanks) so we adopted it as a nickname for all Canadians. The Vancouver NHL team is called the Vancouver Canucks. So now it usually just denotes a Canadian. I first came across the term when I was in Africa and made the mistake of calling a Southerner a Yank. He responded by calling me a Canuck, and was somewhat amazed at my lack of response :-D Anyway, it makes a good net moniker.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), February 04, 2004.

Thanks, Tricia, from both me and the kids.

You are THE prominent example of a fine Canuck, to me and all FRLians, and always will be.

-- (sonofdust.@yankee.yank), February 05, 2004.

Trish, you know I've been worried about your Mom. When my mother first broke her hip, we thought it was the beginning of the end, but she recovered just fine, and had another 12 good years, mostly independent. I would suggest getting her one of those emergency gizmos to wear at all times, or at least a cell phone, and tell her to keep it in her pocket (even her bathrobe pocket). My mom didn't have anything like that, and when she fell in her kitchen, she had to lie there for six hours until someone found her.

Actually, looking back, the whole experience probably added to her life. She had to get out to therapy, had people worrying about her daily, etc, etc. What doesn't kill us.......

-- Lon (lgal@exp.net), February 05, 2004.

How's her recovery?

-- Robert & Jean (Robert&Jean@south.whatsnow), February 10, 2004.

Thanks for your concern! Mom's doing really well. She's living on her own, makes her own breakfasts and lunches, does her laundry and exercises more than I do. She's still using her walker, but is trying daily to increase the amount of time she uses her cane. Like you say, Lon, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.ent), February 14, 2004.